unconventional
gb/ˌʌŋkənvˈɛnʃənəl/ us/ˌʌŋkənvˈɛnʃənəl/
B2
English
rendhagyó, nem szokványos, nem hagyományos
B2
1
rendhagyó
B2
Usage pattern:
unconventional [idea/approach/style/person/place]
Her unconventional teaching style keeps students engaged.
Rendhagyó tanítási stílusa leköti a diákokat.
They held the meeting in an unconventional location to encourage fresh thinking.
A megbeszélést nem szokványos helyszínen tartották, hogy ösztönözzék a friss gondolkodást.
He took an unconventional path into the industry, starting as a designer instead of an intern.
Learner examples
My brother has an unconventional job.
A bátyámnak nem szokványos munkája van.
That is an unconventional idea.
Ez egy rendhagyó ötlet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it to mean simply “new”; it more specifically means “not following usual rules or traditions.”
Meaning
not traditional or normal
Collocations
unconventional approach
|unconventional idea
|unconventional method
|unconventional style
|unconventional choice
|unconventional solution
|unconventional career
|unconventional relationship
|unconventional lifestyle
|unconventional thinker
Synonyms
unusual (General word for ‘not common’ without implying a break from tradition.)
|
nontraditional (Emphasizes ‘not following tradition’ more directly.)
|
unorthodox (Often suggests challenging accepted rules or beliefs.)
Antonyms
conventional (Follows what is usual and widely accepted.)
|
traditional (Follows long-established customs or methods.)
|
orthodox (Follows accepted rules or beliefs, especially in religion or ideas.)
Themes
daily_life
|culture
|ideas
Definition
Different from what most people usually do; not traditional.
Not following what is generally done, accepted, or expected; different from traditional or usual ways.
C1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
unconventional [oil/gas/resources/reservoirs]
The report compares conventional and unconventional gas production.
A jelentés összehasonlítja a hagyományos és a nem hagyományos gáztermelést.
Several countries are investing in unconventional resources such as shale gas.
Több ország fektet be nem hagyományos erőforrásokba, például palagázba.
Unconventional oil extraction often raises environmental concerns.
Learner examples
This company produces unconventional gas.
Ez a cég nem hagyományos gázt termel.
Unconventional oil can be hard to extract.
A nem hagyományos olajat nehéz lehet kitermelni.
Common mistake:
Often confused with meaning ‘unusual’ in general; in energy contexts it has a specific technical meaning.
Meaning
from nontraditional oil or gas sources
Collocations
unconventional oil
|unconventional gas
|unconventional resources
|unconventional reservoirs
|unconventional production
|unconventional plays
|unconventional drilling
|unconventional extraction
|unconventional energy
|unconventional fields
Synonyms
nonconventional (Industry variant; less common in general writing.)
Antonyms
conventional (From traditional reservoirs and standard extraction methods.)
Themes
energy
|environment
|business
Definition
(Energy) From sources that need special methods to extract.
(Of oil, gas, or energy production) obtained from sources or reservoirs that typically require specialized extraction methods rather than traditional drilling, such as shale formations or oil sands.
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
unconventional [tactics/operations/strategy]
The unit specialized in unconventional tactics behind enemy lines.
Az egység az ellenséges vonalak mögött alkalmazott nem hagyományos taktikákra szakosodott.
The conflict shifted from conventional battles to unconventional operations.
A konfliktus a hagyományos csatáktól a nem hagyományos műveletek felé tolódott.
They trained soldiers to respond to unconventional threats such as sabotage.
Learner examples
The army prepared for unconventional tactics.
A hadsereg nem hagyományos taktikákra készült fel.
They faced an unconventional threat.
Nem hagyományos fenyegetéssel néztek szembe.
Common mistake:
Sometimes treated as a synonym of ‘illegal’; unconventional tactics can be legal or illegal depending on context.
Meaning
using irregular military tactics
Collocations
unconventional tactics
|unconventional operations
|unconventional strategy
|unconventional forces
|unconventional campaign
|unconventional methods
|unconventional conflict
|unconventional threat
Synonyms
irregular (Highlights non-regular forces or methods (often in military/political contexts).)
|
guerrilla (Specifically relates to small, mobile fighting groups and hit-and-run tactics.)
Antonyms
conventional (Involves standard armies and traditional battlefield tactics.)
Themes
military
|politics
|security
Definition
(Military) Using irregular or nontraditional ways of fighting.
(In military contexts) involving methods that are not part of standard, regular warfare, such as guerrilla tactics, sabotage, or covert operations.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unconventional
IPA
GB/ˌʌŋkənvˈɛnʃənəl/
US/ˌʌŋkənvˈɛnʃənəl/
Syllables & stress
un - con - ven - tion - al (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ven)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: unconventional
Expressions
unconventional medicine
1/ˌʌŋkənvˈɛnʃənəl mˈɛdɪsən/
fixed phrase
non-mainstream medical treatments
Treatments that are not part of standard medical care.
Examples
- Some patients turn to unconventional medicine when standard treatments fail.
- The clinic offers acupuncture and other forms of unconventional medicine.
- Always talk to a doctor before combining prescription drugs with unconventional medicine.
Learner examples
- Some people try unconventional medicine for pain.
unconventional warfare
1/ˌʌŋkənvˈɛnʃənəl wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
fixed phrase
technical
war using irregular methods
Fighting that uses secret or irregular methods instead of normal battles.
Examples
- The manual outlines how small units can conduct unconventional warfare.
- The group relied on unconventional warfare tactics such as sabotage and ambushes.
- Analysts warned that the conflict could escalate into cyberattacks and other forms of unconventional warfare.
unconventional wisdom
1/ˌʌŋkənvˈɛnʃənəl wˈɪzdəm/
fixed phrase
belief against popular opinion
A popular-sounding idea that is the opposite of what most people think.
Examples
- The unconventional wisdom is that raising prices can sometimes increase demand.
- In the startup world, the unconventional wisdom is to launch early and fix problems later.
- Her talk challenged the unconventional wisdom that multitasking makes you more productive.
Learner examples
- The unconventional wisdom is that sleep is more important than long work hours.